Manufacturing method for an ice skate blade

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the manufacturing method of an ice skate blade. The blade originally shaped as cylinder is processed by a rolling machine and gradually being rolled into a blade with thinner upper portion and wider lower portion. A plurality of through holes with equi-distance in between are provided on the upper portion of the blade which is curved upward at both ends. Finally, a layer of light and rigid polymeric resin material is provided for covering the upper portion of the blade to complete the blade having upper and lower matching sections.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ice skate blade, more particularly to the manufacture method of the blade with being gradually rolling pressed by a rolling machine.

2. Description of Related Invention

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a conventional skate blade of which the steel blade (1) is originally cut off into shape by machine increases the weight of the blade.

As for FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,363 issued on Jul. 13, 2004 to Richard J. Fask et al, an improvement structure of the blade is described, wherein the blade (4) is initially milled into shape and two elongated thinner sides (2) of the blade (4) are forming by milling machine. Further, through holes are formed and finally the blade (4) is covered by a layer of polymeric resin material (3) for reducing the weight of the whole blade. However, the method of material replacement still suffers from some disadvantages as follows.

Firstly, it consumes much more time to form two elongated thinner sides (2) of the blade (4) by milling machine after the blade (4) is milled into shape, especially the milling process could only be practiced uni-laterally at one time which means it would take twice the time to complete the process.

Secondly, the milling process needs to be practiced after the blade (4) is cut into shape which means that a large amount of material would be cut off causing much waste of the material and the cost.

Thirdly, the elongated thinner sides (2) are formed by removing a large amount of steel material and such process would harm the nature of the steel material and lessen the rigidity of the blade (4)

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages, the present invention relates to an ice skate blade, wherein the blade of the preferred embodiment is molded by multi sectional gradual process by rolling pressing machine to form the blade into a structure of wider lower portion and thinner upper portion. A plurality of through holes are formed by machine and then the blade is curved upward at both ends. Further, the blade is covered by a layer of light and rigid polymeric resin material to reduce the whole weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ice skate of preferred embodiment of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the blade, showing the embodiment of the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,363.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blade, showing the embodiment of the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,363.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating the process of molding the blade by a rolling machine.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the blade of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of the blade of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the blade matching with the blade holder of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 4-8 of the drawings, the present invention includes a blade holder (50) and a blade (40), wherein the blade is formed by processing an originally cylinder shaped blade (10) by a rolling machine (30) as shown in FIG. 4. With multi sectional process of rolling molding, upper portion of the cylinder shaped blade (10) is clipped and rolled slightly into thinner width at the first section, and then clipped tighter and rolled into much thinner but suitable width in the following rolling sections to form a blade with wider lower portion and thinner upper portion. A plurality of through holes (101) with suitable spaced equi-distance in between are provided on the thinner upper portion of the blade (10) which is curved upward at both ends. A layer of light and rigid polymeric resin material (20) is used for covering the thinner upper portion of the blade (10) to form the blade (10) with upper and lower sections.

Referring to FIG. 8, the example of preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the through holes (101) on the thinner upper portion of the blade (10) can also be replaced with a plurality of protrusions (112) with suitable spaced equi-distance in between. The advantages of the present invention are as following:

Firstly, the blade (10) is molded by the rolling machine (30) with faster speed. Preferably, the upper portion of the blade (10) is rolled into thinner width by gradually passing the roller machine (30) until a wider lower and thinner upper portion are formed.

Secondly, the blade (10) which is originally shaped as cylinder steel is directly processed into the rolling machine (30) without being milled by machine so as to prevent wasting material and fastening the manufacturing process.

Thirdly, the blade (10) is formed by the rolling machine (30) without being manufactured by the milling machine and no steel material would be milled causing waste so as to preserve the original nature of the steel.

Fourthly, a layer of polymeric resin material (20) is provided for covering the thinner upper portion of the blade (10) so as to greatly reduce the weight of the whole blade (10). 

1. An ice skate blade comprising: a blade holder and a blade, wherein said blade is manufactured by gradually process an originally cylinder shaped steel blade into a rolling machine with multi sectional process; upper portion of said blade is clipped and rolled into slightly thinner width at the first section and then clipped tighter and rolled into much thinner but suitable width in the following rolling sections to form a blade with wider lower portion and thinner upper portion; a plurality of through holes are provided on the upper portion of said blade with suitable spaced equi-distance in between and said blade is curved upward at both ends; and thinner upper portion of said blade with through holes thereon is covered with a layer of light and rigid polymeric resin material forming said blade having upper and lower sections.
 2. An ice skate blade according to claim 1, wherein said through holes on upper portion of said blade could also be replaced with a plurality of protrusions with suitably spaced equi-distance in between. 